Casing for a handheld device

ABSTRACT

A casing for a handheld device providing a face for providing an input region having defined viewing and audio axes. The casing provides speaker and microphone outlets spaced along the audio axis. The audio axis is aligned with a greatest span of the face.

The invention relates to handheld devices and user interfaces therefor.There has long been a drive towards ever smaller phones for ease ofstowage but with an often conflicting requirement to continue to matchthe ear-mouth spacings of the users of the devices. Slides, flips andclamshells have all provided different solutions to this design dilemma.There have, however, been no equivalent solutions for monoblock devicesother than to make them longer and thinner.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a casing fora handheld device providing a face for providing an input region havinga defined viewing axis and having an audio axis, the casing providingfor speaker and microphone outlets spaced along the audio axis, theaudio axis being substantially aligned with a greatest span of the face.

By positioning the speaker and microphone outlets along a different axisfrom the viewing or operational axis, the constraints put on the extentof the device along that axis do not include the ear/mouth spacingconvenient to the user. It allows a different axis to provide thatspacing, freeing the designer to create devices having different andperhaps more ergonomic arrangements. By selecting the axis to coincidewith the greatest span across the face, the maximum spacing for thespeaker and microphone outlets is possible;

In many designs of a generally rectangular arrangement the greatest spanwill coincide with a diagonal across the face. As long as one of thediagonals provides for adequate spacing of the speaker and microphoneoutlets, there are no constraints on the dimensions of the otherdiagonal. This can accordingly take any suitable arrangement, one sucharrangement in embodiments of the invention, provides rounded cornerswhich allow the device to be gripped more successfully with the audioaxis aligned for placement towards the ear of the user.

In this arrangement the rounded corners are able to create a casinghaving only two sides making the casing easier to grip and position inthe user's hand in the most suitable orientation.

In embodiments of the invention, the longest span my be exaggerated byarranging the casing to terminate at a point at either one or both ofits extremities. Similarly, the rounding of the corners could beprovided for one or both extremites of the other diagonal. Perhapsproviding for a different appearance for devices for right and lefthanded users respectively.

The aspect ratio of the device will affect where the audio and visualaxes intersect and also the degree of tilt required to align the audio,rather than the visual axis with the ear of the user. With an aspectratio giving the device a generally elongate rectangular appearance,although the intersection of the diagonal with a generally uprightvisual axis will still occur at substantially the centre of the face ofthe casing, the arrangement could result in this region carrying inputelements of the device. If, as in one embodiment of the invention, therectangular shape is generally square in arrangement with the displaylocated at the centre of the face of one of the casings, the two axesmay intersect in the display region of the device.

The angle between the intersecting axes can be carefully arranged toimprove useability of the device. When the viewing and audio axes aremisaligned, it is desirable that the misalignment is such that theaction of placing the casing to the user ear is accomplished in asergonomic way as possible. In embodiments of the invention, the audioaxis is positioned, in terms of the direction of rotation required totake the casing to the user's ear, beyond the viewing axis. Inparticular arrangements the axes can be aligned so that the rotation ofthe device can be provided by movement of the user's arm at the elbowonly. This means that the casing rests in the user's hand in the sameorientation for both viewing, input, operation and in-callcommunication. Although some movement at the wrist may be possible, thedevice could be moved from in front of the user's eye's to their earwithout adjusting the wrist. This makes for comfortable operation andin-call use of the device.

The adjustment of the wrist could be considered in terms of thealignment of the fingers or palm of the hand of the user relative to thedirection or extent of the lower arm of the user. By maintaining thesame line down the arm and through the wrist for both viewing andlistening, little strain is put on the user's wrist for operation of thedevice. If considering the plane of the hand, in embodiments of theinvention no lateral movement of the hand would be required. In additionit may be possible to move the device from viewing to listening orspeaking without twisting the wrist about the axis of the lower arm.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first face of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a persective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the sameface with one of the trims exploded off;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera face of the device withexploded trim;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second camera face of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a functional diagram showing the functional blocks of acommunications device in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one face of another embodiment of thepresent invention having a different aspect ratio;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention being viewedby a user; and

FIG. 9 is a representation of the device of FIG. 8 held to the ear of auser.

The handheld communications device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has twoprinciple or main functions. In the example illustrated these are tomake voice calls, for more traditional mobile phone functions, and totake photographs. The two functionalities may be supplemented by otherfunctionalities known to the skilled man e.g. data communications,multi-media messaging, navigation etc. The functionalities can also becombined by, for example, taking a photograph and sending it to anothervia a data link. This may be an over the air link utilising the mobilecommunications facility of the device.

The functional aspects of the communication device can be seen in FIG.6. The device 1 includes a key array 2, a display 4, an antenna 6, anear piece and speaker 8 on a communications face 12 and a lens 14 of adigital camera 29 and polyphonic speaker 16 on the imaging face 18. Themicrophone 10 is towards the end of the casing and an aperture 11 isprovided in the side of the casing to pick up the user's speech. Acorresponding aperture 81 is provided in the trim. The microphoneoutlets are not directly located on the longest span of the device, butthe benefit of the longer span is still enjoyed. The communicationdevice 1 is adapted for communication via a wireless telecommunicationnetwork. The microphone records the user's speech, and the analoguesignals formed thereby are A/D converted by an A/D converter before thespeech is encoded in an audio part 20. The encoded speech signal istransferred to processor 22. The processor may support software in thephone. The processor also forms the interface to peripheral units of theapparatus. These include a Random Access Memory (RAM) 24 and a FlashRead Only Memory (ROM) 26, a SIM card 28, the display 4, the digitalcamera 29 and the key array 2, and perhaps a browser application 30, anda location module 32.

The digital camera 29 allows the user to record images andprovides-suitable outputs to allow the download of the recorded imagesto a computer for manipulation and printing. The stored photographicdata can also be sent to other destinations either over-the-air usingthe communications capability of the device or through a hardwired orlandline link via e.g. the internet.

The processor communicates with a transceiver 34, e.g. a circuit, whichis adapted to send and receive messages in a telecommunication network.The telecommunications network may be a GSM or W-CDMA network, but theinvention may also be applied in connection with any other network,including but not limited to other kinds of wireless networks andvarious forms of cordless phone systems or in dual band phones accessingsets of these systems or networks. The audio part speech-decodes thesignal, which is transferred from the processor to the earpiece via aD/A converter.

Devices according to embodiments of this invention may have a radicalappearance. The casing does not have traditional mirror symmetry but israther asymmetric although the main features of the design havepredominantly 180 degree rotational symmetry.

There are two sides that would traditionally be termed A-sides. Thefirst is the mobile phone/communications A-side 12. This can be seen inFIGS. 1 and 3. This side has ‘screen centricity’ i.e. there is a centralscreen. In the embodiment illustrated the input region includes a splitkeymat 3, with keys running either side of the screen 4. In oneparticular embodiment it is the alphanumeric keys that are split in thisfashion. Other arrangements of the keys are clearly possible. Thearrangement of the keys provides the advantage that they are close tothe screen, this may be useful especially if a number of differentsoftkeys are to be used in conjunction with the alpha numeric keys. Alsoin this particular embodiment the screen is in portrait, although otherarrangements including a landscape arrangement are clearly within thescope of the skilled man. The orientation of the screen dictates themost comfortable viewing and data entry orientation of the device.

There may be additional functional keys 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 located tothe bottom of the screen. These are placed in more traditional locationswith the soft keys 42, 44 being located close to the screen. The sendand end call buttons 46, 48 are also located below the screen. An 8-waykey or joystick 50 may also be provided at the bottom of the screen forease of input for e.g. playing games. Also on the communications face 12are located the earpiece 8 and the mouth piece 10. These arediametrically opposed on the furthest corners of the device to providemaximum mouth to ear distance for voice calls.

On the imaging face 18, the lens 14 is provided for taking pictures. Forthe digital camera 29 of the present invention, the landscape displayscreen allows the photographer to see the image before the picture istaken. The lens could also be used for taking video footage. A viewfinder could be provided to supplement the digital display.

To promote the double A-side aspect of the described embodiment allowingthe device to have two primary functionalities available to the user, apair of trims 60 are provided around the edges of the device. The trim60 is a bumper or buffer that hugs the sides of the device. The trimcovers the split-lines 62 or seam between what would have traditionallybeen the A and B covers providing equal focus on or predominance toeither of the major faces of the device. The trims 60 frame a region oneach side of the device. On the communications A-side a frame surroundsthe display 4 and input buttons. On the imaging A-side the same shapedframe surrounds the casing supporting the lens. As the frame provided bythe trims 60 marks the same shaped boundary on each of the flat faces,the visual impact of each of the faces is similar and this enhances thedual aspect nature of the device. The clear separation of the mainoperating elements for the two principal functions of the device on tothe respective A-sides enhances simple operation of the user interface.The two A-sides, could, however, be utilised to separate thefunctionality or operation of the device in ways other than mobilephone/photography.

The trims 60 protect the vulnerable edges and connection along thesplit-lines 62 of the casing parts reducing the likelihood of theelements breaking apart if the device is dropped or suffers an impact inanother way. The trims 60 cushion the casing and also provide anothertexture that can be used to improve the grip or feel of the device. Thisis beneficial as the trim is located around the periphery of the deviceand is accordingly most likely to be gripped when the device is in use.

Problems arise with the design of the trim. It is desirably easilydetachable and reattachable, wears well and does not deform on frequentrelease and reattachment. In the illustrated embodiment the trim isformed in two pieces. There is a snug fit between the trim and theintersection with the other exposed parts of the casing. The trim hasflanges 100 at one end that overlap the casing of the front and rearfaces providing a C- or U-shaped cross-section for part of its extentcoming together at an abutment 102 at one extremity of the device. Atthis point in the illustrated embodiment the trim covers only theperpendicular side face of the device making a discontinuity where itmeets each of the opposed A-faces of the device. The flat section endsof the trim meet at one extreme of the device. The abutment 102 is madeneat by one of the trim elements overlying the other to provide avisually complete transition from one of the side sweeps 104, 105 to theother. At the other, in the position a tear duct would occupy in an eyeof similar shape, a corner piece 106 is provided to seamlessly completethe enclosure. This corner piece provides a connection point 108 for alanyard to allow the handset to be hung on a necklace around the user'sneck or a bracelet around the user's wrist. The microphone 10 andapertures in the casing 11 and 81 are located in a region to the side ofthe corner pieces providing a far larger spacing than would be availablealong the upright viewing axis 112 that indicates the orientation forviewing the screen or operating the device, for example, using the keypad. The line between the ear piece and the speaker apertures providesan audio axis, 110 that is closely enough aligned with the diagonal toprovide a significant increase in the mouth to ear distance over thatavailable along the viewing axis.

To create seamless operating faces, the casing at the C-section regionsof the trim are recessed to allow the trim to lie flush with each face.The trims 60 are attached to respective sides of the device as a mirrorimage along the major, in this case audio, axis 110.

Whilst covering the split-lines 62, the trim still allows access to anon/off key 64, volume/scroll key 66, camera function key 68, and voicetag key 70, known in Japan as a ‘yo be ba’ key all located on the sideof the device. These keys are easily accessible when utilising eitherthe mobile communication A-side or the imaging A-side and can be used ineither circumstance. The operation associated with the keys located inthe region of the trim may, however, differ for respective principalfunctions. For example the key 66 that allows volume regulation for themobile communications function may provide contrast or other imagingfunction such as brightness, colour or zoom when operated when thedevice is operating in the photographic mode.

Also accessible through apertures in the trim in the illustratedembodiment of the invention are an infrared connector 72, an electricalconnector 74, a jack for an earpiece 76, and the microphone aperture 10.

As well as covering the side split-line 62, the trim disguises the doorof the battery compartment 78. This enhances the appearance of a doubleA-sided device as the only visible clue to the location of the battery,which is traditionally on the rear of a handset, is the line boundingthe cover. This is further disguised in the illustrated embodiment withan echoing detail on the imaging face that draws the eye away from thisfeature. In the illustrated embodiment the trim must be removed beforethe battery compartment can be unlatched. Once the trim 60 has beenremoved, the battery compartment cover 78 can be drawn aside to allowaccess to the battery and the SIM card that is also preferably locatedbelow the battery for protection.

Preferably the trim is flexible and resilient and withstands tens ofthousands of bends without marking. It also needs to be compatible withradio transmission from the handset. The material from which the trim ismade has therefore been carefully selected to meet these criteria. Thetrim in this embodiment are from Surlyn reflections SG201 U NC010manufactured by Du Pont.

The material has the following properties:

Tensile Strength—44.8 Mpa

Elongation at break—>200%

Flexural Modulus—638 J/m@ 23 C

IZOD impact—266 J/m@ 23 C

Vicat Softening—190 C

Specific Gravity—1.043

Loss Tangent—0.002

Although this is only one material suitable for the trim, othermaterials should provide at least substantially similar loss tangentsand comparable flexibility, and resilience.

For user customisation and to allow, as already discussed, ready accessto the battery compartment, the trim is desirably relatively easy toremove and remount. In embodiments of the invention, the trim is a pushfit to the casing, requiring no other parts to be moved or altered inorder for the trim to be attached or removed. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention the trim maintains its shape when removedfrom the handset making positioning the trim prior to attachment assimple as possible. The cut-outs 80 in the bumper also enable it to becorrectly registered with the keys and other functional and nonfunctional details exposed when the trim is in position. For connectionbetween the trim and the main body of the device, connectors 82, 84 arepositioned on both the trim and the casing. The clips 82 on the trimsnap into place in apertures 84 on the body. Although in this embodimentthe trim is shown with male parts and the device casing with femaleparts, this can be; reversed. The arrangement of this embodiment does,however, have the advantage that with the trim being flexible theprotruding pins are formed from a more flexible material than the casingelements that are providing the co-operating apertures.

Other arrangements including press-stud fitments have been envisaged forthe connection between the trim and the supporting parts of the casing.In embodiments of the invention it is advantageous to provide a supportstructure to which the trim elements are connected as this provides somesubstance to what may otherwise be a rather flexible member in order tocomply with the requirements of frequent attachment and detachment. Thesides 90 seen in FIG. 4 and hidden by the trim 60 in FIG. 2 provide thisfunction.

The removable trim provides a customisable part for a user to stampindividuality on the device. It is envisaged that replacement trims willbe available in a variety of materials, colours, and textures. Thetexture of the trims may complement the manner of use of the device by,for example, enhancing the tactile feel of holding the device in theoptimum orientation.

In embodiments of the invention the trim may have a leather outersurface. Other possibilities for the trim include having a material orplastic outer surface. To maintain the intrinsic shape of the trimpreferably materials providing the outer surface of the trim will bemounted on a substrate having the desired electromagnetic and durabilitycharacteristics discussed earlier using, for example, a suitableadhesive.

The ambiguity in orientation lends itself to a twin axis approach tooperation of the device. In the present embodiment the display isslightly portrait in aspect. When in the viewing orientation with theviewing axis 112 upright, the trims sweep around the bottom and leftside and top and right side respectively, providing a device thatinstead of four sides has only two. The smooth sides promote convenientgripping of the device with the fingers along one side of the device andthe thumb along the other. The upright sides allow the device to begripped in this fashion with the hand held in a natural position forviewing while keeping the display in the correct orientation. Thearrangement with two sweeping sides 104, 105 that provide either a topand a side region or a bottom and side region rather than two sides anda top and bottom allows the phone to be used in a more ergonomicfashion. It also allows the casing to be stretched along the audio axis,increasing the separation of the microphone and earpiece.

In arrangements of embodiments of the invention, the device can be movedfrom data input or operation input to in-call mode without the userhaving to rearrange the device in the hand. In data input mode if thedevice is held in the left hand, either the left thumb or the fingers ofthe right hand can be used for input, vice versa if the device is heldin the right hand.

The vertical axis 112 through the display is not the same orientation asthe line between the mouth and earpiece 110 located to a reasonableapproximation on the furthest diametrically opposed corners of thedevice. Unusually, the vertical axis through the display is not,therefore, aligned with the ear when the device is held to the ear forcommunication. The design of the device does, however, allow the deviceto be moved from in front of the user's face to the user's ear withoutadjusting the position of the device in the user's hand. This can beseen most clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9 in which the main two holdingpositions of the device can be seen i.e. viewing/data input andtalking/listening.

In use when the device is gripped by the upright trim sides (FIG. 8) theaudio axis 110 is substantially aligned with the users forearm. Thismeans that the wrist does not need to be moved to any great extent asthe elbow is bent to move the handheld device to the ear. A slightvariation in position of the wrist may be required, but generally thedevice can be moved from a position in which the display is beingscrutinised, to the ear where a caller can be heard and the user's ownspeech picked up by the microphone with a mere movement of the elbow.The curved sweeps of the device allow it to fit comfortably into thehand. The ergonomic design of the device allows the speaker to becarefully aligned between the fingers of the user when placed to the earallowing it to be effectively and comfortably positioned for in-calluse.

In the light of the foregoing description, it will be clear to theskilled man that various modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention.

The present invention includes any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalisationthereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimedinvention or mitigates any or all of the problems addressed.

1. A casing for a handheld device providing a face for providing aninput region having a defined viewing axis and having an audio axis, thecasing providing for speaker and microphone outlets spaced along theaudio axis, the audio axis being substantially aligned with a greatestspan of the face.
 2. A casing for a handheld device in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the greatest span is a diagonal across the face.
 3. Acasing for a handheld device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the facehas one elongate and one truncated diagonal.
 4. A casing for a handhelddevice in accordance with claim 3 wherein the truncated diagonal runsterminates at a rounded corner.
 5. A casing for a handheld device inaccordance with claim 3 wherein the truncated diagonal terminates at arounded corner at both extremities.
 6. A casing for a handheld device inaccordance with claim 5 wherein the rounded corners provide two sweepingsides.
 7. A casing for a handheld device in accordance with claim 1wherein the greatest span of the face terminates at a point.
 8. A casingfor a handheld device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the greatestspan of the face terminates at a point at both extremities.
 9. A casingfor a handheld device in accordance with claim 1 wherein theintersection occurs in the display region of the face.
 10. A casing fora handheld device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the display regionis substantially in the centre of the face.
 11. A casing for a handhelddevice in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intersection occurs at theinput region of the display.
 12. A casing for a handheld device inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the face is generally rectangular.
 13. Ahandheld telecommunications device having a casing according to claim 1.14. A handheld telecommunications device according to claim 13 whereinthe viewing axis and audio axis are misaligned such that rotation of theaudio axis in the face of the casing for alignment of the speaker andmicrophone outlets with the ear and mouth respectively of the user whenmoving from the viewing to the listening position is greater than thatrequired for alignment of the viewing axis with the ear and mouth.
 15. Ahandheld telecommunications device according to claim 13 wherein thedevice can be held in the hand in the proper orientation for viewing thedisplay and lifted to the ear in proper orientation for audiocommunication whilst maintaining substantially the same alignment of thefingers relative to the direction of the lower arm of the user.
 16. Acasing for a handheld device providing a face for providing an inputregion having a defined viewing axis and having an audio axis, thecasing providing for speaker and microphone outlets spaced along theaudio axis, the audio axis being substantially misaligned with respectto the viewing axis, the audio and viewing axes intersecting on theface.
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)